The mining industry is addressing climate change head-on as it prepares for a new boom driven by renewable energy demand, a global mining council chief says.

The mining industry has been under fire following a recent UN report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which said Australia must limit and eventually phase out its thermal coal mining to help fight rising global temperatures.

The mining industry and Australian government pushed back, saying mining has a long role to play in the country.

Speaking ahead of the International Mining and Resources Conference on Tuesday, International Council on Mining and Metals chief executive Tom Butler told Fairfax Media mining and a carbon price are both needed to achieve the IPCC’s climate goals, supporting a renewable energy boom that will drive more mining.

“Our materials will be critical to enabling the decarbonisation of the planet,” Mr Butler said. “The mining sector has a critical role to play in the sustainability effort. We can choose whether to be a leader or follow in that.”